<p style="text-align: justify"><strong>A first half stunner from James Rodriguez and a late winner from Alvaro Arbeloa helped Real Madrid to keep the pressure on FC Barcelona as they moved back to within two points of the La Liga leaders with a 3-0 victory over Almeria at Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday. Cristiano Ronaldo failed to score against Almeria, which was his third consecutive game without a goal. But coach Carlo Ancelotti defended his star attacker by claiming that he had be happy even if Ronaldo didna t score again this season.</strong></p> <p style="text-align: justify">FC Barcelona had secured a comfortable victory a day earlier over Getafe and the pressure was on Real Madrid to get all three points against Almeria. And Los Blancos secured a comfortable victory, thanks to a goal each from James Rodriguez and Alvaro Arbeloa. For this game, Ancelotti opted to hand the likes of Asier Illarramendi, Jese Rodriguez and Keylor Navas a rare starting berth.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">Real Madrid made a slow start to the game as they failed to create any goal scoring opportunities. But, James Rodriguez scored through a stunning volley in the 44<sup>th</sup> minute, which was Los Blancosa 100<sup>th</sup> goal of the season, to put Real Madrid ahead at the half time. Their lead was doubled just after the start of the second half when Mauro dos Santos turned a cross into his own net. Alvaro Arbeloa scored third goal of Real Madrid in the 84<sup>th</sup> minute, which proved as a winning goal.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">Meanwhile, despite a comfortable win against Almeria, question marks still remain over the form of Cristiano Ronaldo as he again failed to score on Wednesday. But Carlo Ancelotti defended his attacker in a press conference.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">"If Cristano doesn't score from today until the end of the season I would still be happy. He has already scored 50 goals this season," Carlo Ancelotti said after the match.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">"We are convinced that we can win the four remaining games in La Liga. We are not worried about Barcelona's results," he said.</p> "My cupboard is already full, but I have ambition for this club, the players, the fans."